Show RA1lS AND WIRE FENCING Old Style Fencing Giving g Way Slowly But Surely to the More Modern I Mod-ern Method II I I Much of the old rail fence Is still In use in many sections Though not so neat and attractive as the wire or board fence It has some points of ad vantage over other kinds I The rail fence can be l easily opened to pass through from field to field with binder or other machinery Also rails make handy cross fences or hog lot fences being easily taken down and put up again so as to change ° size of or subdivide lots or fields About the first rails made were split out of white oak and many of these after 40 or 50 years use are yet sound Tho same may be said of chestnut rails but those made of black oak are not so lasting Stock especially horses are seldom hurt b by rail fences yet many are ruined or blemished for life by barbed wire cuts Time barbed or woven wire fence is a necessity In places where little other material is to bo hud and eventually when the wooden lances have all rot ted down we must use the wire which is neat looks well takes up little room and fewer posts than the rail fence It will stand up longer and better against wind and proves an effective barrier to passage of farm stock or some wild animals As fast as needed supplant rails with woven wire about 37 inches high of nine strands Two Inches above it stretch a barbed wire This will turn horses cattle hogs and sheep but another wire eight Inches higher makes it safer for horses or unruly stock says tho Farm and Home Posts should be placed about eight feet apart and alternate ones need only reach to top of woven wire and these might be of old rails cut five feet long Long posts should be of heavy white oak and six and onehalf to seven feet long inserted two to two and onehalf feet in ground Stretch all wires tightly tight-ly and anchor end or corner posts well with heavy braces Such a fence with two barbed wires will be about 48 Inches high and cost for wire and posts from 30 to 35 cents per rod |